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Denver Fire Department Museum

April 27, 2015 by Avogadro Mole

Originally published 24 August 2008

DFDMuseumWhile first learning which stops on the 16th Street Mall bus line let me off close to my destination, I found myself serendipitously on the wrong corner. There on the signpost above my head was an arrow pointing to “Denver Fire Department Museum.” Not needing to be any particular place at any particular time, I headed off to find it.

We’re seriously spoiled by our computers and the like. The first two pics in the slideshow below are the older communications gear. According to the sign in front of this display, the first communications system used by the Denver Fire Department was word of mouth. Someone yelled fire, and every able-bodied person would grab a bucket and join in the line to put out the fire. Maybe a hundred years from now, people will look back at our methods and shake their heads at our bravery. I don’t know about you, but standing nose to flames with a fire, armed only with a bucket? And even now, only with a hose spouting water. These guys are nuts, and I’m glad of it.

CommunicationsCommunications
Communications
CommunicationsCommunications
Communications
Fire Control PanelFire Control Panel
Fire Control Panel
Fire Control PanelFire Control Panel
Fire Control Panel

The second two pics show the fire alarm control panel in use from its invention in the early 1960s thru 1990, when it was replaced by computer aided dispatch. The left side had tape units that recorded conversations, allowing the operator to replay the information if needed. The right side, which doesn’t show in these pictures, was the Register transmitter that identified which alarm was sounding, and the Gong Shunt Control, sending the alarm only to those fire stations that needed to respond.

Some of the wonderful old equipment on display. An 1867 Gleason and Bailey Hand Drawn Pumper, purchased on October 1, 1867, and was only in operation for five years. Hand drawn Pumpers were pulled by twelve to fifteen volunteer firefighters to the fire, who then pumped the water from the source out to the guys at the end of the hose. According to the notes, the Steam Fire Engine with dog is from the New York Fire Museum. Denver had its collection of steamers, and when they were retired, they were sold to greenhouses and cemeteries as irrigation pumps. Following those are a collection of pics of horses, pumpers, dogs, and a hook-and-ladder truck. If you want to read the signs, double-click on the gallery. It will enlarge into a lightbox.

1867 Gleason1867 Gleason
1867 Gleason
1867 Gleason Sign1867 Gleason Sign
1867 Gleason Sign
Hand Drawn Pumper SignHand Drawn Pumper Sign
Hand Drawn Pumper Sign
Steamer With DogSteamer With Dog
Steamer With Dog
Horse Drawn SteamerHorse Drawn Steamer
Horse Drawn Steamer
In Front Of FirehouseIn Front Of Firehouse
In Front Of Firehouse
Steam Fire Engine SignSteam Fire Engine Sign
Steam Fire Engine Sign
Horse Drawn PumperHorse Drawn Pumper
Horse Drawn Pumper
Horse Drawn ImagesHorse Drawn Images
Horse Drawn Images
About Fire Horses And DogsAbout Fire Horses And Dogs
About Fire Horses And Dogs
Hook And LadderHook And Ladder
Hook And Ladder

An intrepid young fireman…
Intrepid FirefighterIntrepid Firefighter
Intrepid FirefighterIntrepid Firefighter
Intrepid FirefighterIntrepid Firefighter
Intrepid FirefighterIntrepid Firefighter

Followed by more equipment. A truck with a “horseless carriage” license, and various pics of the truck. The pic of the sign came out blurry, so I don’t know the name of the truck. Those are followed by a “toy” truck, called so because of all the “toys” it carries for the firemen. When I did my CERT refresher, I got to see the latest version. It’s an awesome piece of equipment. The last truck is a 1953 Seagrave Engine. That’s followed by a couple of pictures of the lockers upstairs the firemen used. The pics I took of the inside locker display didn’t come out so well. They had glass doors, and the best image in the picture is of me and the camera.
Horseless Carriage LicenseHorseless Carriage License
Horseless Carriage License
Horseless CarriageHorseless Carriage
Horseless Carriage
Horseless CarriageHorseless Carriage
Horseless Carriage
Horseless CarriageHorseless Carriage
Horseless Carriage
Toy TruckToy Truck
Toy Truck
Seagrave EngineSeagrave Engine
Seagrave Engine
LockersLockers
Lockers
Eating AreaEating Area
Eating Area

And some reminders that the job is not an easy one.

Stapleton Tank Farm

Stapleton Tank Farm

Miller Furniture Rescue

Miller Furniture Rescue

Denver's Fallen Firefighters

Denver’s Fallen Firefighters

Filed Under: Museums

My Favorite Quotes

We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about.

— Charles Kingsley

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Avogadro's Number and I go 'way back. When I first started writing in what might be considered a blog precursor, a fanzine, I called my 'zine "Avogadro's Number". Named after...[more...]
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